With overtime a possibility in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, Vermes couldn’t afford to burn two subs before the 60th minute, which helped ignite Saad to pace Sporting KC into the tourney’s fourth round.

MLS teams were 5-7 with the San Jose Earthquakes trailing the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1-0 in the second half and Chivas USA leading the Ventura County Fusion 1-0 in matches yet to finish.

Next for Sporting KC, which advances to the quarterfinals for the eighth time and the fourth time in the last five seasons, will host the Colorado Rapids, who took down the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-1 in the third round, at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday at Livestrong Sporting Park.